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see a thing in different presentments。 I want every number。
Politically we begin the new year with every expectation of a
bust in 2 or 3 days； a bust which may spell destruction to
Samoa。 I have written to Baxter about his proposal。
CHAPTER XXXVI
VAILIMA；
JAN。 29TH； 1894。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … I had fully intended for your education and
moral health to fob you off with the meanest possible letter
this month； and unfortunately I find I will have to treat you
to a good long account of matters here。 I believe I have
told you before about Tui…ma…le…alii…fano and my taking him
down to introduce him to the Chief Justice。 Well； Tui came
back to Vailima one day in the blackest sort of spirits；
saying the war was decided； that he also must join in the
fight； and that there was no hope whatever of success。 He
must fight as a point of honour for his family and country；
and in his case； even if he escaped on the field of battle；
deportation was the least to be looked for。 He said he had a
letter of complaint from the Great Council of A'ana which he
wished to lay before the Chief Justice； and he asked me to
accompany him as if I were his nurse。 We went down about
dinner time； and by the way received from a lurking native
the famous letter in an official blue envelope gummed up to
the edges。 It proved to be a declaration of war； quite
formal； but with some variations that really made you bounce。
White residents were directly threatened； bidden to have
nothing to do with the King's party； not to receive their
goods in their houses； etc。； under pain of an accident。
However； the Chief Justice took it very wisely and mildly；
and between us； he and I and Tui made up a plan which has
proved successful … so far。 The war is over … fifteen chiefs
are this morning undergoing a curious double process of law；
comparable to a court martial； in which their complaints are
to be considered； and if possible righted； while their
conduct is to be criticised； perhaps punished。 Up to now；
therefore； it has been a most successful policy； but the
danger is before us。 My own feeling would decidedly be that
all would be spoiled by a single execution。 The great hope
after all lies in the knotless； rather flaccid character of
the people。 These are no Maoris。 All the powers that
Cedarcrantz let go by disuse the new C。 J。 is stealthily and
boldly taking back again； perhaps some others also。 He has
shamed the chiefs in Mulinuu into a law against taking heads；
with a punishment of six years' imprisonment and； for a
chief； degradation。 To him has been left the sole conduct of
this anxious and decisive inquiry。 If the natives stand it；
why； well！ But I am nervous。
CHAPTER XXXVII
FEB。 1894。
DEAR COLVIN； … By a reaction； when your letter is a little
decent； mine is to be naked and unashamed。 We have been much
exercised。 No one can prophesy here； of course； and the
balance still hangs trembling； but I THINK it will go for
peace。
The mail was very late this time； hence the paltryness of
this note。 When it came and I had read it； I retired with
THE EBB TIDE and read it all before I slept。 I did not dream
it was near as good； I am afraid I think it excellent。 A
little indecision about Attwater； not much。 It gives me
great hope； as I see I CAN work in that constipated； mosaic
manner； which is what I have to do just now with WEIR OF
HERMISTON。
We have given a ball； I send you a paper describing the
event。 We have two guests in the house； Captain…Count
Wurmbrand and Monsieur Albert de Lautreppe。 Lautreppe is
awfully nice … a quiet； gentlemanly fellow； GONFLE DE REVES；
as he describes himself … once a sculptor in the atelier of
Henry Crosse； he knows something of art； and is really a
resource to me。
Letter from Meredith very kind。 Have you seen no more of
Graham？
What about my grandfather？ The family history will grow to
be quite a chapter。
I suppose I am growing sensitive； perhaps； by living among
barbarians； I expect more civility。 Look at this from the
author of a very interesting and laudatory critique。 He
gives quite a false description of something of mine； and
talks about my 'insolence。' Frankly； I supposed 'insolence'
to be a tapua word。 I do not use it to a gentleman； I would
not write it of a gentleman： I may be wrong； but I believe we
did not write it of a gentleman in old days； and in my view
he （clever fellow as he is） wants to be kicked for applying
it to me。 By writing a novel … even a bad one … I do not
make myself a criminal for anybody to insult。 This may amuse
you。 But either there is a change in journalism； too gradual
for you to remark it on the spot； or there is a change in me。
I cannot bear these phrases； I long to resent them。 My
forbears； the tenant farmers of the Mains； would not have
suffered such expressions unless it had been from Cauldwell；
or Rowallan； or maybe Auchendrane。 My Family Pride bristles。
I am like the negro； 'I just heard last night' who my great；
great； great； great grandfather was。 … Ever yours；
R。 L。 S。
CHAPTER XXXVIII
MARCH 1894。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … This is the very day the mail goes； and I
have as yet written you nothing。 But it was just as well …
as it was all about my 'blacks and chocolates；' and what of
it had relation to whites you will read some of in the TIMES。
It means； as you will see； that I have at one blow quarrelled
with all the officials of Samoa； the Foreign Office； and I
suppose her Majesty the Queen with milk and honey blest。 But
you'll see in the TIMES。 I am very well indeed； but just
about dead and mighty glad the mail is near here； and I can
just give up all hope of contending with my letters； and lie
down for the rest of the day。 These TIMES letters are not
easy to write。 And I dare say the Consuls say； 'Why； then；
does he write them？'
I had miserable luck with ST。 IVES； being already half…way
through it； a book I had ordered six months ago arrives at
last； and I have to change the first half of it from top to
bottom！ How could I have dreamed the French prisoners were
watched over like a female charity school； kept in a
grotesque livery； and shaved twice a week？ And I had made
all my points on the idea that they were unshaved and clothed
anyhow。 However； this last is better business； if only the
book had come when I ordered it！ A PROPOS； many of the books
you announce don't come as a matter of fact。 When they are
of any value； it is best to register them。 Your letter；
alas！ is not here； I sent it down to the cottage； with all my
mail； for Fanny； on Sunday night a boy comes up with a
lantern and a note from Fanny； to say the woods are full of
Atuas and I must bring a horse down that instant； as the
posts are established beyond her on the road； and she does
not want to have the fight going on between us。 Impossible
to get a horse； so I started in the dark on foot； with a
revolver； and my spurs on my bare feet； leaving directions
that the boy should mount after me with the horse。 Try such
an experience on Our Road once； and do it； if you please；
after you have been down town from nine o'clock till six； on
board the ship…of…war lunching； teaching Sunday School （I
actually do） and making necessary visits； and the Saturday
before； having sat all day from half past six to half…past
four； scriving at my TIMES letter。 About half…way up； just
in fact at 'point' of the outposts； I met Fanny coming up。
Then all night long I was being wakened with scares that
really should be looked into； though I KNEW there was nothing
in them and no bottom to the whole story； and the drums and
shouts and cries from Tanugamanono and the town keeping up an
all night corybantic chorus in the moonlight … the moon rose
late … and the search…light of the war…ship in the harbour
making a jewel of brightness as it lit up the bay of Apia in
the distance。 And then next morning； about eight o'clock； a
drum coming out of the woods and a party of patrols who had
been in the woods on our left front （which is our true rear）
coming up to the house； and meeting there another party who
had been in the woods on our right ｛ front / rear ｝ which is
Vaea Mountain； and 43 of them being entertained to ava and
biscuits on the verandah； and marching off at last in single
file for Apia。 Briefly； it is not much wonder if your letter
and my whole mail was left at the cottage； and I have no
means of seeing or answering particulars。
The whole thing was nothing but a bottomless scare； it was
OBVIOUSLY so； you couldn't make a child believe it was
anything else； but it has made the Consuls sit up。 My own
private s